Email is not dead. It will also most likely never be replaced, no matter how many new social media platforms come out or how the online trends change. It is usually the first place everyone checks at the start of the day, and particularly a working day. Most people can access their emails from their phones as well, so they are literally checking their email all day, intermittently, on the go.

We know this because we are one of those: compulsively checking our inboxes, and still subscribing to our favourite websites or brands. Emails are not dead, so neither then are email subscriptions. They are perhaps one of the oldest online methods to get people to connect to your brand, and they are not outdated yet. Email subscriptions are vital in connecting with your audience, and work as an effective marketing technique that should not be overlooked.

Check your inbox, if you like, and count: how many email subscriptions do you receive? Whether they’re from your favourite online clothing retailers, or just Tesco emailing about your Clubcard points, most people are subscribed to at least one email list.

An email list is therefore an undeniably vital asset for any business, although acquiring one can be the difficult part. It is one thing asking and prompting your users to subscribe, and another actually acquiring an efficient email list.

The majority of email lists people join inevitably come from online shopping, as this is definitely one of the easiest ways for brands to access your email address. Most online retailers require your email address, in order to keep you updated with your order, and then afterwards you find yourself receiving regular email updates as well as short email articles.

This is definitely the best way to access your consumers’ email inboxes, and get them subscribed to your list. Also, in a few physical retail stores, most notably Apple, they have started giving “online receipts”, as opposed to paper ones. The way they do this is by asking for your email address, and emailing you the receipt for your in-store purchase. So, miraculously, you have found yourself subscribed to their email list.

How To Create an Email List

However, what if you aren’t directly selling a product for your online users’ to purchase? This does make it more difficult to create a successful email list, although there are ways around. The crucial part of an email subscription list is simply offering them something in return. In this retail case, they are providing a purchase and service in return for the email address. And, whether you are an online retailer or not, you can also easily offer a service in return for their email.

Examples of a service can be: a discount code or free offer, a newsletter, information about your particular brand or upcoming events, or anything relating to your business and brand. If your online user feels like they will benefit from signing up to your email subscription list in some way, then they are far more likely to sign up. This is a good incentive, plus they won’t feel like they have been deceitfully bribed into giving you access to their email inbox.

Make Your Sign Up Form Stand Out

One of the most important ways to get them to subscribe, asides from offering an incentive, is to make signing up a clear part of your website. You need to make your sign up form stand out, and feature as something for your consumers to complete easily. Acquiring emails for your email list is far more important than getting them to follow you on Facebook or Twitter, so it should be made more obvious on your site.

Many businesses create landing pages simply for this purpose – a landing page is one page, either on its own or as a part of your website, that is intended for people to subscribe to an email list. The landing page is typically designed with only one place for online users to go: the sign up form. This is definitely one effective way that businesses get their audience to subscribe.

However, why not treat every page of your website as a landing page? Link your sign up box to the top or bottom (or both!) of each page, and keep prompting. Many websites put their email subscribe box at the bottom of each page and blog post, prompting their consumers that they will gain more benefits and content from entering their email. Make the sign up form stand out; make it easy to access; you should be sorted.

Don’t Overcomplicate

One of the main points of a sign up box is not to make it too complicated. If you’re asking for too many details, and making them jump through too many hoops, they simply won’t go through the effort to sign up. All you really need for email subscriptions is their email address, and a click button to subscribe. If you want their name as well (to make the emails more personal, perhaps), then that’s up to you. Although, we really recommend asking for the least information you possibly can.

Most email subscription services are double opting in, additionally. This means that each user will automatically receive an email asking them to click on a link to confirm that they really do want to subscribe, even after they’ve entered their details onto your website. Try to personalise this email as much as you can, in order to give them more incentive to click through and finalise their subscription. For example, only offer them their free incentive if they click through.

So, there you go! If you follow these tips, you are well on your way to acquiring a successful, and effective, business email list.

Now what?

Well, as previously mentioned, your successful email list is one of the strongest assets for your business. It adds weight to your business, and counts far more than any connections on social media, RSS subscriptions and certainly more than website page views. It’s the best way to create a responsive consumer base, in order to build your brand and connect with a wider audience. You can sell your latest product, promote upcoming events, and more: simply through your email subscriptions. You can also use emails to provide your consumers with more content, as it often generates more response than online articles or blog posts.

You can also use your email list as a business asset in another way. An email list adds far more value to your business, and you can use it to create trades with other businesses. There are even ways to buy and sell useful email lists! Use it to build your network connections, and draw more success for your business all round.

We know exactly how to connect to your audience, and utilise an effective email list service. Email marketing is a vital part of digital marketing, and you need to make sure that you are making the most of it for your business.

Check out more about the services we offer for email marketing, and creating successful email lists, here. Also, for a breakdown of our services and prices, take a look here!